Japan plane fire: Five crew found dead after jet carrying 379 passengers goes up in flames at Tokyo airport

Footage on broadcaster NHK showed flames pouring out windows of the aircraft and underneath it.

Japan Airlines confirmed that all 379 passengers and crew on board have been evacuated.

The captain of the coast guard jet is said to have escaped but is severely injured, according to NHK.

Videos appear to show passengers running away from the blaze as debris fell onto the tarmac.

Japan's coast guard said their aircraft was on its way to Niigata Airport to deliver aid to the earthquake-hit Noto peninsula.

The fire service were deployed to the scene and could be seen trying to extinguish the flames.

"We are currently assessing the extent of the damage," the airline said, according to an NHK report.

Haneda Airport has closed all runways following the incident, a spokesperson says.

The plane, Japan Airlines Flight 516, departed from New Chitose airport at 16.00 local time (07:00 GMT) and was scheduled to land at Haneda at 17.40.

WATCH NOW: Dramatic footage shows Japan Airlines flight engulfed with flames

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has launched an investigation into the incident.

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has responded to the devastating airport fire.

Writing on social media, his office says he wants to ensure that officials "quickly ascertain the damage situation".

He also wants to "strive to provide appropriate information to the public".

Travel journalist, Simon Calder told GB News: "You can imagine that operations will be coming to a complete stand and still. This is Tokyo's main airport, one of the busiest airports in Asia, in the world.

"In fact very close to the capital of Japan and so therefore there will be, I imagine, a lot of smoke, a lot of horrifying scenes.

"But the main thing is that we appear to have 379 passengers and crew evacuated from this Airbus A-350 and the plane was two years old.

"It appears that the problem was a collision with the Coast Guard aircraft as we've been hearing and very sadly I'm hearing that while one Coast Guard member of crew escaped the smaller plane, the dash 8, there's five who are unaccounted for.

"The pictures look horrifying, but this was a safe evacuation and I need to stress this comes the at the start of 2024 after 2023 was the safest year ever for aviation.

"We had just two fatal accidents total tragically of 86 fatalities, but no passenger jet aircraft.

"They were propeller planes that crashed and no international flights affected. So while this is horrifying for a lot of people and it's going to make them feel anxious about flying, the fact that everybody got off the aircraft, off the passenger aircraft should be actually a source of reassurance.

"Whatever else is going on, please make it your New Year's resolution next time you're on a flight, and every time you're on a flight, just when they say OK, we're going to do the safety briefing, even though you have seen them dozens of times before, perhaps just pay attention.

"They are there to make you safe and crucially, most aircraft incidents like this one are survivable as long as you do the right thing.

"So leave your cabin baggage behind, having paid attention to where the nearest exit is, obey the cabin crews orders.

"They are there not to serve you a nice cup of tea, they are there for your safety."

Dramatic videos feature loud rumbling from the engines as the plane speeds along the tarmac and inside the plane an alert sounds repeatedly.

The plane can be seen bursting into flames as it travels down the runway before coming to a stop.

It comes just one day after a huge 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit the country, killing dozens of people.

The earthquake has devastated huge parts of Japan's west coast.